Lead Safety Q&A with Dr. Thakur

We recently connected with Dr. Roopa Thakur, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s and a clinical lead with the Lead Safe Screening & Testing Program. This program is part of the broader work of the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition.

Dr. Thakur shared thoughtful insights about development and health impacts as well as home-based prevention practices. Her responses offer a deeper look at the work happening in our community to protect children and families.

Development & Health Impacts

What early signs of lead exposure or developmental changes should parents watch for?

Most children with lead poisoning are asymptomatic—this means that your child may not show any signs of lead poisoning right now. This makes it very hard to know if a child is experiencing lead poisoning without doing a blood test.

How do you communicate the long-term impacts of lead exposure to families in a clear, non-alarming way?

Studies show that there is no safe blood lead level. If lead is detected in your child’s body, it can have harmful effects, especially on the brain and nervous system. While you may not see any symptoms right now, a child with high lead levels may show signs of hearing loss, developmental delays, growth problems, and behavior issues like ADHD (attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder) as they get older.  

Home-Based Prevention Practices

What household behaviors do you recommend to reduce lead exposure risk (e.g., cleaning routines, handwashing, water use)?

The most common source of lead in our region is lead-based paint, but it can also come from parents’ place of work or hobbies, water source, contaminated soil around homes, as well as food, herbs, spices, toys, cosmetics, and folk remedies—especially those that come from other countries and may contain lead paint or lead compounds. Lead dust accumulates on surfaces, including the floors and carpets, upholstery, windowsills, and window wells. It’s important to clean those areas well!

• Wet mop your home at least weekly. All surfaces should be wet mopped frequently to remove lead particles—dry sweeping should be avoided as this may actually kick up the dust and spread it around the home or make it easier to inhale.
• You should thoroughly clean all toys and items on the floor (for example, the base of standing lamps, etc.).
• You can periodically borrow a HEPA vacuum from the local health department to get a deeper clean on your floors.
• If you have chipped paint already, you can temporarily cover those areas with tape to prevent flaking until you have a chance to address it more permanently. You can also use furniture or other physical barriers to block access to windows or areas that may contain lead paint.
• Wash hands frequently, especially before mealtime and bedtime. This is to remove any lead dust from the hands that may have been picked up during floor play.
• Do not allow children to play in bare soil outside, because soil contamination is very common around older homes. Cover any exposed soil with mulch or grass. Remove shoes at the door so that you don’t track lead-contaminated soil through the house.
• If you are concerned about your water supply, you should run your tap water on cold for 1-2 minutes or use a water filter before using it for drinking, cooking, or mixing formula.